33 arrested after FA Cup violence

Five police officers were injured and 33 arrests were made after groups of supporters clashed following the Everton and Manchester United FA Cup tie at Goodison Park in Liverpool.

Police tried to break up groups of fighting supporters from both teams who then turned on the officers, Merseyside police said.

A police spokesman said the arrests were for public order offences or for being drunk and disorderly.

He said that an incident of serious disorder took place after last night's fifth-round match as both sets of fans clashed in the Everton Valley district of Liverpool.

One of the injured officers needed hospital treatment but was not thought to be seriously injured.

A large-scale police presence was required to escort the away supporters from Everton's Goodison Park through the city centre after sporadic incidents of disorder.

"The incidents were quickly dealt with by the officers at the scene and the escort was established to cause as little disruption as possible," the Merseyside police spokesman said.

Manchester United supporters eventually boarded their trains at Liverpool's Lime Street station shortly after 9:00pm (local time).

Earlier, the match had been marred when a missile was thrown from the crowd and felled Manchester United goalkeeper Roy Carroll.

A police officer recovered a mobile phone from the pitch. It is not known if this was the object which hit the player.

Merseyside police said they are liaising with Everton stewards over the incident and will be studying CCTV and TV footage in an effort to identify who threw the missile during the second half of the match.

Police officers spoke to fans sitting nearby to where the incident took place in one of the home supporters' stands and took witness statements.

Two youths were also arrested during the match for throwing plastic bottles towards the pitch.

The missiles did not hit anyone and the incident is not thought to be connected with the other attack.

Everton have vowed to ban for life the fan who threw the missile that struck Carroll during United's 2-0 win.

Ian Ross, Everton's director of communications, branded the fan responsible as a "mindless moron" as the FA revealed that they would be liaising with the club and police over the incident.

Ross said: "It was a disgraceful incident, but an isolated one and we hope the police will be able to deal with it.

"We prepared for a major fixture in the right way, and made appeals to fans about their behaviour. And 99 per cent did behave well but just one fan has disgraced the name of this club.

"We are determined to find him. We accept that we are responsible for the behaviour of our fans and we apologise to Roy Carroll and the Manchester United team. It shouldn't happen but how can you stop it?

"One mindless moron spoilt things for everyone else. There is no place for that sort of thing at Goodison Park and when we discover the culprit he will be banned for life."